Sister McKay Dickson: Week 32: Slippin & Slidin... into a tree

Merry Christmas week!!! I can't believe it's only 5 days until Christmas!

Things to know:

-Said goodbye to Sis Perrett (Lil perry) and it was so sad. Feeling very jipped I only got 4 weeks with her, but I am SO grateful God made us companions! #ohmygosh

-Had MISSION CONFERENCE this week and it was the BEST THING EVER!! It was so happy to see all of my friendsss and it was such an uplifting experience! And we got to watch the nativity scene from The Chosen

-We had a day of service and we got to walk stray dogs (funniest time of my life, they were psycho and running everywhere) and we went to the food bank. We also shoveled a bunch of driveways after a big snow storm and it was so fun!!!

-Had a Christmas party last pday: we played white elephant (I got a fanny pack) & had a gingerbread contest! Also Got Sushi with the tech council for dinner this week

-Haven't been able to meet with like any of our people because of the Holidays, fr everyone just ghosts us :((

Stories of the week:

-Yeahhhh so I may or may not have slid on ice and straight into a tree because Spokane doesn't plow their roads. Say goodbye to Simba the gold equinox, & hello to me never driving again lol. So embarrassing, don't ask me how long I cried for. Now its a meme tho so it's fine, you just have to laugh about those kind of things because what else can you do 3 other companionships got in accidents that night too bc the roads were so gnarly (Hallelujah I wasn't the only one)

-We saw a cool miracle, someone we haven't been able to get in contact with was at the breakfast restaurant that we took Sister Perrett to on her last day! And he had never met Sis Archie and I, so if we hadn't been there with Sister Perrett he wouldn't have come to say hi! It's so cool to see God's hand in this work :))

Spiritual thought:

Obviously with Christmas coming up, I have to share my thoughts about the true meaning of the season :)) At Mission conference we talked about the 3 different levels of celebrating Christmas. The first being about Santa Claus, presents, family, etc. The second being about the birth of the Savior, the nativity, angels, etc. And the Third being about the adult Christ and His Atonement. When you celebrate with the first two, the true meaning is lost. OF COURSE it is wonderful to celebrate family and baby Jesus, but the only way we can have TRUE joy is because Jesus grew up and gave us the gift of His Atonement! And that is the best gift any of us could ask for, because we would have nothing to be grateful for without his Atonement. If you are seeking for more in your life, you will find it in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. His hand is ALWAYS outstretched, but you have to grab on if you want to feel Him there. I can promise that! It isn't always going to be easy, but by the enabling & redeeming power of His Atonement He will give us the strength, joy, and peace that we are seeking. I am so grateful for the BEST gift that was ever given, my Savior & Redeemer AND His infinite Atoning sacrifice.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and I hope after a week of celebrating the first two levels of Christmas that you kneel down and give thanks for the third.

I love you! Merry Christmas :))

Sister Dickson

Pics:

(Sorry in advance for the overload from Mission Conference!)